Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



I Mag, 1, 1923. "1,453,691

` .1.F. o'coNNo'iiv I FRICTION SHOCK ABSQRBIVNG MEGHANISM Filed Oct. 50 1919 Il llllllll Patented May 1, 1923.

UNJi-EA ST. f

mate

JOHN r. ocoNNoR, or cHIcnGo, ILLrNors, AssIGNoiaro WILLIAM H. Minnie,v or

CHAZY, New YORK. f

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSORBING 'MECHANISlVL Application filed October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,568.

To all whom t may concern:

vBe it known that I, JOHN F. OCoNNoR, a citizen of United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State of Illinois, have invent-cda certain new andl useful Improvement in jFriction Shock-Absorbing Mechanisms'of which the following is a-full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, formingy a. part ofthis specification. 1

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms. Y

The object of thevinvention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especially adapted for railway draft rigging and wherein is provided high capacity combined with certain release.

In the drawing forming part of this specification, Fig. 1, is a horizontal longitudinal sectionalview of a railway draft rigging showing my improvements embodied therein. Fig. 2 4is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.4 And Fig.l 3 is a vertical sectional. View taken. transversely `of the friction shell substantially on the line 3 3 of Fd. 1. y

n said drawing, r1O -1O denote channel center or draft sills of a railwayrar to the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs 11-11' and rear stop lugs 12-12 spaced the usual distance apart( of ,24g inches. A portion of the draw bar isindicated at 13 and the same is operatively 'connected with the shock absorbing mechanism proper by a yoke 11i of usual construction. The partsfare supported in place -by any suitable means suchvas the vdetachable saddle plate 15.

My improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown,comprises broadly, a combined friction shell rand spring cage designated'generally by the reference A; twin main springs `Bf-B;`anoutero'r front follower C; an linner spring follower D; and two sets offriction elements each comprisingan outer friction wedge shoe E andan inner friction wedge shoe The combined shell and cage A is preferably in the form of'a casting with a friction shell proper f at the forward -end thereof. Said shell is proyided with outer 'rearwardly dii-'erging friction surfaces 16-16 andv a central. integral post 17 which is formed with outer rearwardly diverging friction surfaces y18-18. and 18 are arranged in, pairs, as will be evident from inspectionof Fig. 1, andthe same are vpreferably made parallelvwith each set,`

or pair disposed at an angle tothe axis of the mechanism. The castingA. isA of substantially rectangular cross section and rear- The friction surfaces 16.

wardly of the shell is fformed with uppery wall 19,` lower wall 20 and integral rear wall 21, the latter acting as therearwfoh lowervof the gear. The' sides of the feasting A are left open yso as to facilitate, insertion,

of the twin springs B, each of the latter v preferably comprising an outer heavy coil and an inner lighter coil.

The spring follower D1 is locatedfwithin the casting A atthe forward endsofthe springs B and thesame is provided on itsy front or outer face with a -pairof oppositely extending friction surfaces 22-22 which are Varranged at a comparatively blunt angle with the axis of thegear-and diverge in a forward,direction.v At its'L ends,

theyfollower D isk beveled as j indicated at 23-23 so as tov form a. snug'fit against the friction surfaces 16 when the; parts are -in n'ormalpositiong.

vThe outerfollowerfCbears lagainst.the

rear end ofthe drawbar and on its'inner face is provided with a pair of inclined friction surfaces 2415-24, the 'same beingprefer ablyv parallel with the friction.y .surfaces 22-22l of the spring follower D.

Each of the elements E nd F-yis they.

form of a `regularprism of equilateraltriangular cross section. i The friction elements E and F are of suchv height vertically as. to slide freelyA and be. g. guided between the upper and-,lower walls cated at 31 and 32 to it the friction'surfaces 4 front end of the friction shell which isy done in order to obtain larger wearing areas and to accommodate said extended part of the post 17, the follower C is cut away as indicated at 34 to thereby permit the follower to come into full engagement with the outer end ofl the friction shell at the end of the compressive stroke.

The operation is as follows: Assuming an inward movement of the draw bar, the follower C will be forced rearwardly which in turn will force the friction elements or shoes E in the same direction. As the elements E travel rearwardly they are simultaneously7 forced apart laterally due to their sliding engagement on the friction surfaces 18. The combined rearward and lateral movements of the elements E forces the friction elements F rearwardly and also laterally and they in turn force the followerl) rearwardly thereby compressing the springs B. During the operation described, itis evident that friction is generated between the following sets of friction surfaces, 24 and 25; 26 and 18; 29 and 22; and 30 and 16. By making the elements E and F independent or separable friction will always be generated during a compression stroke, even though wear takes place on the various friction surfaces for the reason that even though there may be a slight amount of slack at the initiation of the compression stroke, the two elements E and F of each set are bound to be placed in intimate frictional cont-act with eachother and with the friction Vsurfaces of the two followers and the shell.

From'the preceding description, it will be noted" that I obtain a high combined spring and frictional capacity in a device which is compact and adapted for use in the standard spacing now employed. Also, all of the friction producing parts are of simple design and` can be manufactured at comparatively small expense in the form of castings.

I claim :-l

1. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with' a friction shell having a pair of opposed parallel friction surfaces exten-ding at an angle to the aXis ofthe shell; of a pair of followers, one disposed forwardly and the other rearwardly of said friction surfaces, said followers having also opposed parallel friction surfaces extending at a different angle to the aXis of the shell; spring means interposed between one of said followers yand the shell; and friction elements cooperable with said opposed friction surfaces 'of the shell and said opposed friction surfaces of the followers,

said elements comprising two separate trition elements engaging said second follower.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechaf nism, the combination with a frictionV shell having two oppositely inclined sets of friction surfaces, each set including a pair of substantially parallel friction surfaces extending at an angle to the centerline of the shell, of a pair of followers, one of which'is located forwardly of the friction shell surfaces and the other rearwardly thereof,- a spring resistance interposed between said shell and one of said followers, the other follower being adapted to receive the actuating' pressure, and two sets of friction shoes interposed between and co-operating with said followers and the friction surfaces ofthe shell, each set of friction `shoes comprising a plurality of separate friction shoes yrela'- tively adjustable to compensate for wear.l 4. In a frictiony shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having a pair of diverging outer friction surfaces and a central post provided also with a pair of diverging friction surfaces, of two sets of friction elements, the friction ele'- ments of each set cooperating with one'of said outer friction surfaces and one of said post friction surfaces, means for apply'iiiV pressure to said sets of friction elements, spring` means for yieldingly resisting movement of said friction elements 'relatively to the shell.

5. As an article of manufacture, a combined friction shell and spring cage casting, the shell portion of said casting having side walls provided on their inner faces Vwith di# verging friction surfaces, the shell portion of said casting having also an integral post located midway between said diverging friction surfaces, said lpost being provided also with a pair of diverging friction surfaces ar? ranged substantially parallel with the corresponding rst mentioned friction surfaces the diverging friction surfaces of said post being` extended partly outwardly of the shell.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a combined friction shell and spring cage, the Shell having two sets of friction surfaces on opposite sides of the center line of the shell, the friction surfaces of each set being substantially parof friction elements comprising a pair of 10 triangular shaped friction blocks,v said lolocks having friction surfaces (zo-operable with ,thosev of lthe shell and of .l

the followers.

Infvvitness that Ii'claim the foregoing 1,15.'

have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of Got. 1919.

` JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

